Love yourz.

I have to testify to y’all real quick. I woke up this morning in LOVE with myself and I know people say that all the time, but I finally feel like it’s really real. I’m the most awesome person I know.

For years of my life, “love yourself” has been an unattainable affirmation. I always associated it with broken-hearted women and a number of other people trying to act like they’re above their hurt feelings. Unfortunately, most people who say “I’m my own best friend” and “I love me more” stay buried in their bullshit. I don’t blame them, though – it’s hard to train yourself to love yourself when years have been spent learning how to do the opposite.

I’m in my mid-twenties, and only in the past year have I been truly in love with myself. I think changing what you speak is a start, but you can’t be successful until your mind begins to change. You know it’s real when you look in the mirror and smiling is a reflex.

Lately, I’ve been blessed with some alone time and it’s in those moments I get to really face myself. Once upon a time, the quiet times were the worst times. Confronting myself was like waiting for an avalanche to hit – you can only let so much build up before it comes crashing down.

But let me tell you about this weekend. This weekend I was in the house smiling at everything: my dogs, my space, my reflection. I walked around half-naked because I could and I blasted my music so it would match the volume of me singing at the top of my lungs. My thoughts were things like, “Girl you hit that note,” Your abs are fire even after that prime rib,” and “Wow, you’re really just having a good ass time right now.” I thought about how I’m doing at work, the time I’ve spent building friendships, and my commitment to my personal goals. It finally sank in, I’m really proud of the woman I’ve become.

I think the key to loving myself was becoming someone that is easy to love. It’s hard to be happy with myself when I’m not living up to my potential – when I’m living out my fears instead of my dreams. And today, I’m not perfect, but I’m doing the best I can. There’s nothing more I could ask for.